KR-20260067620-A - Shape evaluation method of thermally conductive adhesive and method for manufacturing battery modules using this

KR20260067620AKR 20260067620 AKR20260067620 AKR 20260067620AKR-20260067620-A

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method for evaluating the shape of a thermally conductive adhesive, comprising the steps of: collecting two-dimensional shape information of a thermally conductive adhesive measurement area distributed on a substrate; dividing the measurement area into two or more units equally; measuring the height of each unit to evaluate the thickness of the measurement area; and measuring the shading of each unit to evaluate the end of the measurement area.

Inventors

김현수
권수민
김정빈

Assignees

에스케이온 주식회사

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20241106

Claims (15)

A step of collecting two-dimensional shape information of a thermally conductive adhesive measurement area distributed on a substrate; A step of evenly dividing the above-mentioned measurement area into two or more units; A step of measuring the height of each of the above-mentioned units to evaluate the thickness of the measurement area; and A method for evaluating the shape of a thermally conductive adhesive, comprising the step of measuring the shading of each of the above-mentioned units to evaluate the continuity of the measurement area.
In paragraph 1, The step of collecting the above two-dimensional shape information is, A method for evaluating the shape of a thermally conductive adhesive, wherein the direction in which the adhesive is distributed and the direction perpendicular to the distributed direction are respectively set as the x-axis and y-axis to collect length and height information of the measurement area.
In paragraph 2, A method for evaluating the shape of a thermally conductive adhesive, wherein the height information of the above-mentioned measurement area is calculated by correcting the height of the lowest part of the measurement area to a reference value.
In paragraph 1, A method for evaluating the shape of a thermally conductive adhesive, wherein the above two-dimensional shape information is measured through a phase measurement method or a laser scanning technique.
In paragraph 1, The step of evaluating the thickness of the above-mentioned measurement area is, A step of calculating the maximum height value of each unit at the 10th to 40th percentile of the volume-weighted distribution of the above-mentioned measurement area; and A method for evaluating the shape of a thermally conductive adhesive, comprising the step of calculating the average value of the maximum height values of each of the above-mentioned units.
In paragraph 5, The step of evaluating the thickness of the above-mentioned measurement area is, A method for evaluating the shape of a thermally conductive adhesive, wherein the above average value is judged as defective if it differs from a predetermined height threshold.
In paragraph 1, The step of evaluating the interruption of the above-mentioned measurement area is, A step of measuring a continuous length from one end of a measurement area to the other end through a change in shading of each of the above-mentioned units; and A method for evaluating the shape of a thermally conductive adhesive, comprising the step of determining a defect if the measured length differs from a predetermined length threshold.
In Paragraph 7, A method for evaluating the shape of a thermally conductive adhesive, wherein the continuous length of the above-mentioned measurement area is the length from one end of the measurement area to the part where the change in shading differs from a predetermined threshold value for the entire area of each unit.
Step of distributing a thermally conductive adhesive on a battery module case; A step of evaluating the shape of a thermally conductive adhesive, comprising: a step of collecting two-dimensional shape information of a measurement area of the thermally conductive adhesive; a step of evenly dividing the measurement area into two or more units; a step of evaluating the thickness of the measurement area by measuring the height of each unit; and a step of evaluating the continuity of the measurement area by measuring the shading of each unit; and A method for manufacturing a battery module, comprising the step of assembling a battery module by combining a battery module case that has passed the above evaluation and a battery cell stack.
In Paragraph 9, The step of distributing the above-mentioned thermally conductive adhesive is, A method for manufacturing a battery module, wherein the above-mentioned thermally conductive adhesive is distributed between the battery module and the cell stack housed within the battery module case, between the battery cells, and on one side of the battery cell stack, at least one of which is selected.
In Paragraph 9, The step of collecting the above two-dimensional shape information is, A method for manufacturing a battery module, wherein the direction in which the adhesive is distributed and the direction perpendicular to the distributed direction are respectively the x-axis and y-axis for collecting length and height information of the measurement area.
In Paragraph 9, The step of evaluating the thickness of the above-mentioned measurement area is, A step of calculating the maximum height value of each unit at the 10th to 40th percentile of the volume-weighted distribution of the above-mentioned measurement area; and A method for manufacturing a battery module, comprising the step of calculating the average value of the maximum height of each of the above-mentioned units.
In Paragraph 12, The step of evaluating the thickness of the above-mentioned measurement area is, A method for manufacturing a battery module, wherein the above average value is determined to be defective if it differs from a predetermined height threshold.
In Paragraph 9, The step of evaluating the interruption of the above-mentioned measurement area is, A step of measuring a continuous length from one end of a measurement area to the other end through a change in shading of each of the above-mentioned units; and A method for manufacturing a battery module, comprising the step of determining a defect if the measured length differs from a predetermined length threshold.
In Paragraph 14, A method for manufacturing a battery module, wherein the continuous length of the above-mentioned measurement area is the length from one end of the measurement area to the part where the change in shading differs from a predetermined threshold value for the entire area of each unit.

Description

Shape evaluation method of thermally conductive adhesive and method for manufacturing battery modules using this The present invention relates to a method for evaluating the shape of a thermally conductive adhesive and a method for manufacturing a battery module using the same. Rechargeable batteries can be recharged and discharged, making them applicable to various fields such as digital cameras, mobile phones, laptops, hybrid cars, and electric vehicles. Among rechargeable batteries, extensive research is currently underway on lithium-ion batteries, which possess high energy density and discharge voltage. Lithium-ion batteries are manufactured as flexible pouch-type battery cells, rigid prismatic battery cells, or cylindrical can-type battery cells. Multiple battery cells are stacked and electrically connected to form cell stacks, which are then mounted in a module case to form battery systems such as battery modules or battery packs. These battery systems are installed and used in electric vehicles and the like. Ensuring safety is critical for such battery systems. In particular, if a fire originates in a battery cell due to an abnormal phenomenon and spreads to surrounding cells, thermal runaway may occur, potentially leading to further ignition or explosion. Therefore, a structure capable of blocking the spread of internally generated flames is required. At this time, if the thermally conductive adhesive is not applied uniformly, poor contact between the battery cell and the case can lead to reduced mechanical strength of the bond and reduced durability of the battery module. In addition, if voids or delamination occur in the thermally conductive adhesive, heat is not properly transferred, causing the temperature of the battery cell to rise and posing a risk of shortening the battery cell's lifespan. Accordingly, there is a need to develop a method to evaluate whether the thermally conductive adhesive has been properly applied in order to optimize the thermal performance of the battery module. FIG. 1 shows a two-dimensional shape image in which a measurement area of a distributed thermally conductive adhesive is divided into two or more units in the shape measurement method of the present disclosure of a thermally conductive adhesive. FIG. 2 illustrates the step of calculating the height of each unit in the shape measurement method of the thermally conductive adhesive of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 illustrates a method for evaluating the discontinuity of a distributed thermally conductive adhesive measurement area in the shape measurement method of the thermally conductive adhesive of the present disclosure. The present disclosure will be described in detail below. However, this is merely illustrative and the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described illustratively. Unless otherwise defined, terms used in this specification should be interpreted as generally understood by those skilled in the art. The singular form used in this specification may be intended to include the plural form unless specifically indicated otherwise in the context. Furthermore, the numerical range used in this invention includes lower and upper limits and all values within the range, increments logically derived from the form and width of the defined range, all of the specified values, and all possible combinations of upper and lower limits of the numerical range defined in different forms. Unless otherwise specifically defined in the specification of this invention, values outside the numerical range that may occur due to experimental error or rounding are also included in the defined numerical range. In this specification, terms such as "include," "have," and "have" mean that the features or components described in the specification are present, and unless specifically limited, this does not preclude the possibility that one or more other features or components may be added. The term "measurement area" in this specification refers to a portion of a thermally conductive adhesive applied continuously or discontinuously to a substrate where a starting point and an ending point can be identified, but is not limited thereto, provided that it is a region of interest for which the shape of the applied thermally conductive adhesive is to be evaluated. The term 'unit' in this specification refers to each segment that evenly divides a measurement area on a substrate coated with a thermally conductive adhesive, and may be divided into equal lengths according to the adhesion direction of the measurement area, but is not limited thereto. The method for evaluating the shape of a thermally conductive adhesive of the present disclosure may include: a step of collecting two-dimensional shape information of a thermally conductive adhesive measurement area distributed on a substrate; a step of evenly dividing the measurement area into 5 to 30 units; a step of evaluating the thickness of the measurement area by me